Unknown replaces SA Attorney-General Atkinson

A back-bencher politician whose views on the video game industry are relatively unknown has been appointed to replaced outgoing South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson.

Atkinson resigned from the role — but not from parliament — over the weekend in the wake of ongoing public criticism and a voter backlash in his seat of Croydon in Saturday’s state election.

The Labor politician has for some time stood in the way of lobbying efforts by the video game industry and gamers themselves to create an R18+ classification for games in Australia. In addition, he has faced criticism over his defence of legislation requiring online political comment during state elections to be accompanied by personal details.

“New SA Attorney-General is John Rau, a supporter of the R18+ classification for games (and a nice guy, to boot),” wrote Chris Prior on Twitter today. Prior is president of Gamers4Croydon, a political party supporting the R18+ classification which ran for office in Atkinson’s electorate and the state legislative council.

“John attained a Law Degree, worked as a Solicitor at law firm Duncan & Hannon and later at Johnston Withers & Associates where he was made a partner,” the site states.

It also notes Rau was an advisor to the Hawke Government between 1985 and 1988, and has been a barrister since 1997. He is a former member of the ALP National Executive and is a member of “various parliamentary committees”.

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